Poultry
Chicken shuffle
Saturday 8 September, 2007
Dan and I did a chicken shuffle tonight. We moved the four cockerels that we hatched over the summer into one run - this will be their home until they are killed - and moved the three pullets in together. They will stay there until they all start to lay and can go into the layer flock.
This empties the small Forsham ark and the extension run, so that we can get it cleaned, repaired and painted. Then there will be another shuffle, so we can do the same with the other Forsham ark.
We've bought two new poultry houses this summer, from other manufacturers but it has only confirmed our opinion that the Forsham arks are the best. They are well-built, well designed and very practical. They aren't cheap but are good value for money.
Mixed up cheeps
Wednesday 4 July, 2007
Due to our impending holidays and poultry accommodation shortage, we decided to put the little cheeps in with the big cheeps. We moved them two nights ago and this morning, I was all ready to despatch Dan on a poultry house search, so that I could take my four "babies" away from those evil big cheeps. I can't say that I have every felt much for our hens but I have become rather attached to the four little cheeps - they are quite tame. Dan reminded me this morning that I'll probably be eating at least some of them.
Second Airborne Division
Monday 11 June, 2007
The second batch of cheeps are growing up fast. They're now out all day, but come in at night. They don't have the lamp on now - but our spare room is quite warm!
They are quite obliging at getting into the cat basket to come in at night - and they zoom out of the box into their "bedroom", which has lead to them being called the "Second Airborne Division". You can see them here in action.
Accommodation crisis looming
Sunday 3 June, 2007
I think I have an accommodation crisis looming. No, Dan hasn't given me my marching orders!
We have two poultry arks - a big one and a little one - and an extension run. The nine layers and Hobbes are in the big ark and the three big cheeps (now nearly six weeks old) live in the little ark with the extension run. This is all fine and dandy but the little cheeps, now almost two weeks old, are going outside, so the big cheeps only have the ark, while the little cheeps have the extension run and the cat carry case. The wee cheeps come in at night and stay in the puppy cage. Hope you're following all this - the wee cheeps don't know if they are chickens, cats or puppies!
More new arrivals
Tuesday 22 May, 2007
We had more new arrivals last night in the shape of four Light Sussex chicks. When I went to bed last night, they were all pipped - had been since lunchtime. I confess I was dying to "help" them, but they weren't actually due until today, so I took myself off to bed, woke at 4am (labour pains, I think) and all four were out and in the incubator.
They were duly transferred to the brooder before I went to work and, so far, all look fine and are eating and drinking. One looked a bit poor this morning but I think it might have been the last to hatch. It looks fine now - at least I can't pick it out from the others!
Backyard poultry keeping course
Thursday 17 May, 2007
After much shillyshallying, I have finally got round to organising our first backyard poultry keeping course. We're keen to encourage folk to try producing their own food and hens are such fun. Much more exciting than, say, a marrow, Although marrows are, of course, extremely worthy.
This is all happening on Saturday 30th June, here at TAS. Starting at 10am, we'll cover all the essential aspects of keeping poultry at home. Lunch will, of course, be provided. Full details on the courses page.
And then there were nine. And Hobbes.
Monday 14 May, 2007
Mrs Purple died in the night. She was one of our oldest hens, except for the Brown Leghorn, and a Rhode Island Red. She hadn't been in top form for a while - her comb was a bit purple (not the reason for her name - she had a purple leg ring), so she probably had some kind of heart / circulatory problems. She was OK yesterday i.e. chooking around for corn and pecking greenfly off the gooseberries, but was a stiff as a board this morning.
So now there are nine. And Hobbes. And however many of the cheeps turn out to be female...
Cheeps' progress
Thursday 10 May, 2007
I didn't put the cheeps outside today - it has been bucketing rain all day here, and even thought there is shelter, I was worried that they woudl get wet.
They were out all day yesterday and it's forecast dry tomorrow, so they can get out tomorrow. And weekends are OK, because I can ring them in if the weather gets nasty. Like the washing!
Dan's been away this week, so hopefully he'll see a difference in them tomorrow when he gets home.
The Cheeps' first day out
Saturday 5 May, 2007
It's been nice here today, so it was time for the cheeps' first day out. We used the extension run as a playpen. They were out for about half an hour (maybe longer); Hobbes and the hens had a good look. As did Cassius!
At first, they just stood stock still - I was a bit worried that they would die of stress or something. However, within 10 minutes, they were pecking around, had found their food and water and were investigating grass and dandelions (of which there are many in our lawn! I shall now say that I cultivate them for the cheeps.)
